2012 NBA Offseason: Detroit Pistons
Draft Grades, Offseason Needs, Free Agents
Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, David Kay and Peter Christian of the The Sports Bank. Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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Detroit Pistons (Last Year: 25-41)
Live 2012 NBA Draft Grades:
9. Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut: B+ Grade
Why not? If Andre Drummond ever figures it out, this could be one huge steal as he and Greg Monroe could be an incredible frontcourt for the future. On the flip side, Drummond could be out of the league in four years. Worth the roll of the dice at this point for Detroit.
39. Khris Middleton, F, Texas A&M: Grade C-
Injury issues held Middleton back during his junior season, but he still decided to leave school. Detroit has a wealth of small forwards now with Prince, Maggette and Daye, so I'm not sure how Middleton fits, and if he will ever make anything of himself as a pro.
44. Kim English, G, Missouri: A- Grade
I really like English as he is a versatile wing who can shoot it from deep. He should help replace what Detroit lost at the two by trading Ben Gordon.
*** 2012 NBA Offseason Needs and Free Agents listed below this comment box. ***
2011-12 Season Summary:
The former Eastern Conference power Detroit Pistons missed out on the playoffs for a third straight season. Coincidentally enough, that streak started when general manager Joe Dumars wasted his abundant cap space by overpaying Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to long-term deals. The franchise is still in recovery mode from those signings and doesn't figure to make any major moves this offseason.
The most significant takeaways from this past year was the development of second-year big man Greg Monroe and play of rookie point guard Brandon Knight. By nearly averaging a double-double a night, Monroe made strides toward becoming a very good NBA center, which every team covets nowadays. Knight immediately stepped into the starting point guard role and showed enough promise to be labeled as the point guard of the future.
Monroe's emergence in the middle was sorely needed in a very underwhelming Pistons frontcourt. Jason Maxiell and Ben Wallace provided some toughness and physicality, but offered very little offensive production. Jonas Jerebko was effective coming off the bench after missing all of the 2010-11 season due to injury. Villanueva continues to be a major free agent bust, as he was bothered by ankle injury, but even when he was healthy, he found himself locked to the bench.
Knight's instant impact at the point allowed head coach Lawrence Frank to play Rodney Stuckey as his more natural off-guard position and bring Ben Gordon off the bench. It was an undersized trio that struggled to defend bigger shooting guards, but brought some solid scoring punch to help make up for Detroit's offensively-challenged front line - minus Monroe, of course.
Tayshaun Prince was typical Tayshaun Prince; a glue-guy leader, who can contribute a little bit in every aspect of the game, but isn't going to take over. Third-year pro Austin Daye actually took a step back and doesn't appear to be a piece of the long-term puzzle for the Pistons.
C: Greg Monroe/*Vernon Macklin
PF: #Jason Maxiell/Jonas Jerebko/Charlie Villanueva
SF: Tayshaun Prince/Corey Maggette/Austin Daye
SG: Rodney Stuckey
PG: Brandon Knight/Will Bynum/*Walker Russell
NBA Free Agents:
#PF-Jason Maxiell (PO)
C-Ben Wallace (UFA)
SF-Damian Wilkins (UFA)
*C-Vernon Macklin (RFA)
*PG-Walker Russell (RFA)
Offseason Transactions:
The Pistons acquire SF Corey Maggette from the Bobcats for SG Ben Gordon and 2013 lottery protected first-round pick.
2012-13 Team Salary: Approximately $58.3 million
NBA Offseason Needs:
1. Frontcourt Complement for Monroe: Detroit needs to find an upgrade from the Jason Maxiell/Ben Wallace combination that started 53 games alongside Greg Monroe in the frontcourt. Charlie Villanueva has been a massive bust since coming to Detroit, while Jonas Jerebko is best suited providing some energy off the bench. With little flexibility in free agency, look for the Pistons to address this need with their first-round draft pick.
2. Slasher: Brandon Knight and Rodney Stuckey are capable of getting to the rim, but Ben Gordon relies more on his outside shot. Meanwhile, Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye can't really break a defender down in iso situations. The Pistons would be wise to find an athletic wing who attack the tin and create in one-on-one situations.
3. Bench Scoring: Gordon, and to a lesser extent Jerebko, are the only real bench scorers Detroit has on its roster. Villanueva can get buckets as well when he is actually on the floor, but the Pistons finished 27th in the league in scoring, partially due to their poor point production from their reserves.
4. Find a Sucker: If I were Joe Dumars, I would hope to find some trade partner to take Villanueva and/or Gordon. Villanueva is owed more than $8 million dollars this season and has a player option worth almost $8.6 million for next season - he would be idiotic to turn that down. Gordon will make $12.4 million in 2012-13 and has a $13.2 player option for 2013-14. Those two guys and the cap space they take up are part of the reason Detroit is sort of in a holding pattern for another two years.
If the Pistons can find a suitor to take either guy and get an expiring contract in return, it would accelerate the revamping of their team. It certainly won't be an easy task getting another team to take either guy and his bloated contract though. Detroit also still has its one-time amnesty option, and Villanueva would certainly be a candidate for that.
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 23
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
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© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
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All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
Detroit Pistons (Last Year: 25-41)
Live 2012 NBA Draft Grades:
9. Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut: B+ Grade
Why not? If Andre Drummond ever figures it out, this could be one huge steal as he and Greg Monroe could be an incredible frontcourt for the future. On the flip side, Drummond could be out of the league in four years. Worth the roll of the dice at this point for Detroit.
39. Khris Middleton, F, Texas A&M: Grade C-
Injury issues held Middleton back during his junior season, but he still decided to leave school. Detroit has a wealth of small forwards now with Prince, Maggette and Daye, so I'm not sure how Middleton fits, and if he will ever make anything of himself as a pro.
44. Kim English, G, Missouri: A- Grade
I really like English as he is a versatile wing who can shoot it from deep. He should help replace what Detroit lost at the two by trading Ben Gordon.
*** 2012 NBA Offseason Needs and Free Agents listed below this comment box. ***
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CYnthia
12-03-2012
11:07 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.106
(total posts: 1)
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The following NBA teams need to be ccteraotnd:Orlando MagicLA ClippersNew Jersey NetsToronto RaptorsMemphis GrizzliesCharlotte BobcatsThat would take it down to 24 teams, so you'd have four divisions of six. I think that's perfect.
fag
10-30-2012
12:17 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.169
(total posts: 2)
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6
fag
Bill
10-30-2012
12:16 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.169
(total posts: 2)
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Im a gay fa g
Bill
07-01-2012
06:53 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.119
(total posts: 2)
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62
Poor Chris.
He must live in that craphole.
Chris
06-29-2012
08:35 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx8.23
(total posts: 1)
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8
Bill........shut up.
Bill
06-29-2012
07:55 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.119
(total posts: 2)
51
366
This franchise should just fold.
Monroe and Knight will leave ASAP. Besides, who would want to play in that craphole of a city?
HiMyNameIs
06-29-2012
05:24 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.140
(total posts: 1)
8
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Why does everyone act like if Drummond doesnt reach his full potential he will be a complete bust? Just off his size strength wing span and athletisizm he will stick around in the league for years to come. His floor is probably somewhere around DeAndrea Jordan not Kwama Brown(and even Browns managed to stick around the league for along time) The kid should be going into his freshman season as he finished high school in 3 yrs, if he had stayed the course im bettin he'd be a top3 pick next yr
DaBone Wash DC
06-26-2012
09:54 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx5.34
(total posts: 1)
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21
How in the heck does drafting a 6'3"' SG make up for not getting a big man in the 1st round? Did I miss something?
Jay
06-11-2012
01:55 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx6.17
(total posts: 1)
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25
I think Sullinger would be a nice addition to this team.
Natedogreat ggibbyuvycyj15
06-10-2012
10:25 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.195
(total posts: 1)
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27
If Sumars were smart he would take Moultrie in a heart beat. big, long, strong with a great shot. then in the second take henry sims of GT and either Will Buford or Jared Cunningham. Either tose two or trade both and Daye for a late first rounder like Indiana and draft Royce White, then trade Prince for another late pick like GS and draft a shooting guard like Evan Fournier or Draymond as bench help like Harden is for OKC.
gregory bishop
06-06-2012
11:55 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.117
(total posts: 1)
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29
Tyler Zeller @ # 9 in the draft provides some stability to the interior. Best scenario = Houston wants Zeller and will trade up for him. Detroit already has Houston's second round pick[#44} this year. Could they get both of Houston's first rounders in a trade if they gave back H's second rounder or Detroit's second pick[#39]? If so take Evan fournier with that #16 pick for when Villanueva and Gordon drop off the roster.
Tim
06-01-2012
04:58 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx6.77
(total posts: 2)
16
13
Trade Charlie V to the Bucks for Beno Udrih and Jon Brockman, makes sense cap wise and once Charlie V moves teams he'll magically become amazing because thats what happens in Detroit
Tim
06-01-2012
04:51 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx6.77
(total posts: 2)
417
302
take Henson or Zeller with the 1st round pick, Jae Crowder with the first second who would fill the slasher need and get rid of Charlie V no matter what, Gordon is atleast still serviceable
Dryer Sheet
05-29-2012
11:40 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.140
(total posts: 1)
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mE, you're clearly not a Jazz fan are you? Why would anyone give up anything of significance for 3 terrible players/contracts?
mE
05-23-2012
06:08 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx4.71
(total posts: 2)
32
58
Proposed Trade:
Detroit trades - Charlie Villanoodle, Ben Gordon, Austin Daye and 1st round pick to Utah for: Derrick Favors and Raja Bell Ok... |
2011-12 Season Summary:
The former Eastern Conference power Detroit Pistons missed out on the playoffs for a third straight season. Coincidentally enough, that streak started when general manager Joe Dumars wasted his abundant cap space by overpaying Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to long-term deals. The franchise is still in recovery mode from those signings and doesn't figure to make any major moves this offseason.
The most significant takeaways from this past year was the development of second-year big man Greg Monroe and play of rookie point guard Brandon Knight. By nearly averaging a double-double a night, Monroe made strides toward becoming a very good NBA center, which every team covets nowadays. Knight immediately stepped into the starting point guard role and showed enough promise to be labeled as the point guard of the future.
Monroe's emergence in the middle was sorely needed in a very underwhelming Pistons frontcourt. Jason Maxiell and Ben Wallace provided some toughness and physicality, but offered very little offensive production. Jonas Jerebko was effective coming off the bench after missing all of the 2010-11 season due to injury. Villanueva continues to be a major free agent bust, as he was bothered by ankle injury, but even when he was healthy, he found himself locked to the bench.
Knight's instant impact at the point allowed head coach Lawrence Frank to play Rodney Stuckey as his more natural off-guard position and bring Ben Gordon off the bench. It was an undersized trio that struggled to defend bigger shooting guards, but brought some solid scoring punch to help make up for Detroit's offensively-challenged front line - minus Monroe, of course.
Tayshaun Prince was typical Tayshaun Prince; a glue-guy leader, who can contribute a little bit in every aspect of the game, but isn't going to take over. Third-year pro Austin Daye actually took a step back and doesn't appear to be a piece of the long-term puzzle for the Pistons.
C: Greg Monroe/*Vernon Macklin
PF: #Jason Maxiell/Jonas Jerebko/Charlie Villanueva
SF: Tayshaun Prince/Corey Maggette/Austin Daye
SG: Rodney Stuckey
PG: Brandon Knight/Will Bynum/*Walker Russell
NBA Free Agents:
#PF-Jason Maxiell (PO)
C-Ben Wallace (UFA)
SF-Damian Wilkins (UFA)
*C-Vernon Macklin (RFA)
*PG-Walker Russell (RFA)
Offseason Transactions:
The Pistons acquire SF Corey Maggette from the Bobcats for SG Ben Gordon and 2013 lottery protected first-round pick.
2012-13 Team Salary: Approximately $58.3 million
NBA Offseason Needs:
1. Frontcourt Complement for Monroe: Detroit needs to find an upgrade from the Jason Maxiell/Ben Wallace combination that started 53 games alongside Greg Monroe in the frontcourt. Charlie Villanueva has been a massive bust since coming to Detroit, while Jonas Jerebko is best suited providing some energy off the bench. With little flexibility in free agency, look for the Pistons to address this need with their first-round draft pick.
2. Slasher: Brandon Knight and Rodney Stuckey are capable of getting to the rim, but Ben Gordon relies more on his outside shot. Meanwhile, Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye can't really break a defender down in iso situations. The Pistons would be wise to find an athletic wing who attack the tin and create in one-on-one situations.
3. Bench Scoring: Gordon, and to a lesser extent Jerebko, are the only real bench scorers Detroit has on its roster. Villanueva can get buckets as well when he is actually on the floor, but the Pistons finished 27th in the league in scoring, partially due to their poor point production from their reserves.
4. Find a Sucker: If I were Joe Dumars, I would hope to find some trade partner to take Villanueva and/or Gordon. Villanueva is owed more than $8 million dollars this season and has a player option worth almost $8.6 million for next season - he would be idiotic to turn that down. Gordon will make $12.4 million in 2012-13 and has a $13.2 player option for 2013-14. Those two guys and the cap space they take up are part of the reason Detroit is sort of in a holding pattern for another two years.
If the Pistons can find a suitor to take either guy and get an expiring contract in return, it would accelerate the revamping of their team. It certainly won't be an easy task getting another team to take either guy and his bloated contract though. Detroit also still has its one-time amnesty option, and Villanueva would certainly be a candidate for that.
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 23
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
Privacy Policy
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